Spain orders Thales unmanned air systems

Spain's Directorate-General for Armament and Material (DGAM) has awarded Thales two contracts to supply unmanned Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms to the Spanish Navy and Army.

Spain's Directorate-General for Armament and Material (DGAM) has awarded Thales two contracts to supply unmanned Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms to the Spanish Navy and Army.

The Spanish Navy has selected the Fulmar X unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for testing and evaluation of UASs in maritime environments.

In addition, DGAM has acquired an unspecified number of class I RPAS system to be deployed by the Spanish Army in Operational Zones. The system — equipped with a new high-performance, dual Electro-Optical / Infared payload — will detect targets, identify threats and provide the necessary information to guarantee security. The system is scheduled to be deployed this year.

The Fulmar X system has participated in various evaluations under the DGAM’s RPAS Master Plan, RAPAZ, and more specifically with the Spanish Navy. The Fulmar Team has conducted these operational evaluations in a wide variety of settings, both with the Army and with the Navy and the Marines.

The Fulmar X aircraft — officially launched in July 2016 — weighs 20kg, with a wingspan of just over 3m. It is capable of flying at a height of 3,000m, with a range of more than 8 hours and covering distances up to 80km. The system is designed and manufactured in Getafe (Madrid).

Thales was selected to provide six Fulmar systems for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency to install them in their New-Generation Patrol Craft for coastal surveillance, under a contract signed in April 2016.